Costa Rica sacks coach Batista after poor Nations League start

Costa Rica's football federation terminated Batista's contract on Monday, just six months into his tenure, citing the team's underwhelming performance in continental competition. The dismissal follows a series of poor results in the CONCACAF Nations League, where the Central American side suffered unexpected losses to lower-ranked opponents.

Batista, who took charge of the national team earlier this year, was unable to arrest the team's decline in what has been a challenging campaign. The defeats to Curacao and Haiti exemplified the side's struggles against competition many analysts expected them to overcome comfortably.

The federation's decision to part ways with Batista underscores the mounting pressure on Costa Rica's football programme. The country, which has historically competed at a higher level in regional and international competitions, has faced increasing difficulties in recent tournament cycles.

No replacement has been immediately announced. The federation is expected to begin the search for a new head coach to lead the team through upcoming CONCACAF qualifying matches and regional competitions.